In the end, it went pretty much as expected. United gave a far better performance than the one in the first leg at Anfield, but still fell well short of what was needed to rescue the tie. They raised our hopes ultimately being unable to deliver the required heroics.
The first half was promising, with the Reds building up momentum in a series of meaningful attacks around the Liverpool area. Martial looked a consistent threat and there was no surprise when he put United in front. Tripped in the area by Clyne, he calmly stepped up and took the penalty himself.
In truth, Liverpool had always looked a threat on the break, however, and Sturridge hit the bar from a free kick to give notice that they certainly had a goal in them. In the end it came from the impressive Coutinho just before half-time. The Brazilian left Varela for dead on United's right side before entering the box and coolly chipping De Gea from a tight angle.
It effectively killed the tie. The worry before this game is that the Reds struggle to keep clean sheets these days and any goal conceded would mean an uphill struggle involving the kind of multiple goal-fest we so rarely see at Old Trafford these days.
Indeed, Liverpool grew as the second half went on and it was only some fine saves from De Gea that kept the scores level on the night. The damage had all been done in the first leg and there was a feeling at the final whistle of being put out of our misery, as well as relief that Van Gaal will no longer be able to claim we're active in three competitions in order to embellish his lame duck status at the club. We were, after all, only in this competition because we failed to progress in the Champions League. The reasons for that failure were all too evident throughout this tie.
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